Charmaigne Neville's Inspirational New Orleans story

by talesin 4 Replies latest jw friends

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  talesin

  I didn't know how else to word the thread ... it's time for us to start posting and highlighting some stories of those who are helping each other.

  Charmaine Neville's inspirational words.

  "Some people hate themselves, so they hate everybody else. Those people were not true New Orleanians," she said.

  But Neville saw heroes, too. "There are many, many heroes that have come out this. People talking about what I did. I didn't do nothing. Everybody did something."

  Neville said that she, too, was raped during those chaotic days. "What he took from me was nothing, because he can't take my spirit, he can't take my soul. My soul is New Orleans."

  The singer believes brass bands will play in Congo Square again, that her city will rise again.

  "It may take us a couple of years, but it's gonna happen. We will not abandon our home. God put his foot down and that's why Louisiana's shaped like a boot. He said good people who have faith in me, who love life, who love good food, who love music, these is the kind of people who need to be here, and that's why we were born there."

  http://2theadvocate.com/stories/090405/new_soul001.shtml
  
  
  
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  nilfun

  Talesin, thank you for posting this truly inspirational account.

  It is amazing what one can go through, and still keep their spirit.
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  bisous

  Great Idea, Talesin!! (BTW, Aaron Neville's rendition of Amazing Grace on the msnbc music special was nothing short of amazing.)

  Here are a couple of the nicer or more inspiring, hopeful stories beginning to emerge:

  My parents, grandmother, and aunt and uncle all decided to ride out the storm in Long Beach, Mississippi, right outside Gulfport (despite the fact that my sister and I begged them to leave). I have been pacing the floor and praying since Sunday night. It is now Tuesday at around 3:30, and I just got a call from a complete stranger telling me my family is alright. My father saw her on the road and asked if she was able to get cell reception. This lovely woman said she thought she could get some farther north in Mississippi, where they were headed. She took my name and number, and kept calling until she got me. Charlotte, wherever you are, thank you.
  Ayn McLaurin
  Atlanta, Georgia

  This is just a small story about the hurricane evacuees that found their way to Farmerville, Louisiana, in the northern part of the state. Farmerville is a small town with only one motel, which filled very quickly. The town of Farmerville then offered the local recreation center to house the overflow. Pilgrim's Pride, who has a chicken processing plant located there, donated cases of chicken which was then prepared by our local volunteer fire department and others for these unfortunate people. The whole town has rallied in an effort to do what they can to alleviate some of the pain of this terrible tragedy. I am sure that there are many small towns across Louisiana that are doing the same.
  Lyn Kenley
  Farmerville, Louisiana

  My daughter teaches a special ed class in a north Texas high school, which is in a part of the state that is definitely not affluent. The school wanted to take up a collection for the hurricane relief fund. The special ed kids (some of them autistic, some in wheelchairs) wanted to participate, so they gave the only thing they could --their soda money. This should be a reminder to everyone that even the price of a soda will help. I am attending volunteer orientation with the Red Cross tomorrow in Dallas to try and help. Thank you and God bless us all.
  Judy
  Denton, Texas
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  talesin

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  patio34

  Hi Tal,

  to you for putting up that inspirational story---a new role model in her and you! It's so easy to focus on the negative to the exclusion of the positive. Kudos.